Information regarding the possibility of implementing new nuclear power capacity

Following the policy of transparency, publicity and timely information to the public and all interested parties, as well as in relation to some publications and statements in the media, "Kozloduy NPP - New Build" provides the following:

Information regarding the possibility of implementing new nuclear power both with the equipment ordered for the Belene NPP and with an entirely new nuclear power reactor technology.

By a decision of the Council of Ministers of 11 April 2012, the Council of Ministers gave its consent in principle to build a new nuclear capacity at the Kozloduy NPP, thus initiating the project. The same decision mandated the Minister of Energy to submit to the Council of Ministers a report under the special law ASUNE for making a „decision on the merits“ and a report on the legal and organizational form for implementing the project. The preparation and submission of a report under Art. 45 of ASUNE are related to the performance of wide-ranging assessments during the feasibility study period, on which to base an informed decision. The scope of the feasibility studies is focused on two main alternatives

– construction of a new nuclear power plant with maximum use of the equipment ordered for the Belene NPP and

the construction of an entirely new technology nuclear power reactor.

In this regard, in the period 2012-2015, the following studies, analyses and assessments were commissioned and carried out, based on the above-described alternatives:

1. Research and determination of the location of the preferred site for the construction of a new nuclear power plant on the site of “Kozloduy NPP” EAD and adjacent territories;

2. Feasibility study to justify the construction of a new nuclear power plant at the Kozloduy NPP site;

3. Preparation of a Terms of Reference for the scope and content of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and, based on it, an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA) for the construction of a new nuclear power plant at the Kozloduy NPP site;

4. Carrying out an "Independent verification of the results and assessments obtained during the study and determination of the location of a new nuclear power plant at the Kozloduy NPP site" by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

5. Preparation of a task for the design of a PUP-PRZ and a reference plan within the meaning of Article 125 of the Spatial Planning Act for the purposes of the project for the construction of a new nuclear power plant at the Kozloduy NPP site.

The purpose of the studies and research is to assess both the status of each of the four proposed site alternatives, as well as the technical and economic characteristics and the impact of the project on the environment and human health. The results of the several-year studies prove indisputably that there are technological, engineering and economic possibilities for using this project equipment at Kozloduy NPP. The studies focus on all characteristics that may be important for safety in the event of external natural phenomena and man-made events, taking into account possible additional engineering measures necessary to prepare the site to accept the nuclear facility under the two proposed technical alternatives - maximum use of the equipment ordered for Belene NPP and the construction of a completely new nuclear power reactor technology. Along with the ordered equipment - model AES-92, the "new" models considered, falling within the restrictive criteria of the Council of Ministers' Decision, are Atomstroyexport's AES-2006, Westinghouse's AP 1000 and Mitsubishi/Areva's ATMEA-1.

After the assessment of the proposed sites, Site 2 was selected as the most promising in accordance with the criteria set by the NRA, taking into account the characteristics of the proposed sites. In addition to the above, an expert group from Kozloduy NPP EAD and the Project Company approved the results of the studies carried out to determine the location of the new nuclear facility and proposed a preferred site to be approved by the NRA Chairman. In addition, following the recommendations of the regulatory authority and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as well as in order to ensure an expert and impartial assessment of the conclusions from the studies carried out on the potential sites for the deployment of a nuclear facility, "Kozloduy NPP - New Build" EAD assigned the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences to conduct a repeated "Independent verification of the results and assessments obtained during the study and determination of the location of a new nuclear capacity at the Kozloduy NPP site", which confirmed the conducted studies, i.e. the proposed site is suitable for the deployment of both the equipment ordered for Belene NPP and a project based on a completely new technology III or III+. The results of the environmental impact assessment, described and analyzed in the EIA Report, also unequivocally confirm the possibility of implementing the project in accordance with both alternatives. The data from the feasibility studies were used to prepare the documents for issuing an order by the Chairman of the NRA to approve the preferred site. The main document on which the assessment of the regulatory authority is based is The Preliminary Safety Analysis Report /PSAR/, in which the two technical alternatives were again considered and evaluated equally - maximum use of the equipment ordered for the Belene NPP and the construction of an entirely new nuclear power reactor technology.

In addition to the above, in July 2017, "Kozloduy NPP - New Build" EAD received a letter from the Chairman of the NRA, according to which, after a detailed factual and technical review of the documents submitted within the framework of the proceedings for issuing the above-mentioned order „"There are no observations found that would prevent the issuance of an order for approval of the selected site for the construction of a nuclear facility - nuclear power plant.". Currently, the Decision of the Minister of Environment and Water, which approved the investment proposal for the construction of a new nuclear power plant, is being appealed before the Supreme Administrative Court, which is actually the only obstacle to the issuance of the order by the Chairman of the NRA.

In conclusion, the Company informs that according to the regulations of the Republic of Bulgaria, it is currently the only company developing a nuclear project in the country. There is confusion or misunderstanding in the Bulgarian and international community regarding the activities of the company and more precisely, that it was created to build only the American model AP 1000. This model was only one alternative, which after the expiration of the shareholders' agreement and the subsequent bankruptcy of Westinghouse is practically difficult to implement.

The use of the manufactured, paid for and delivered equipment for two nuclear islands using AES 92 technology at the Kozloduy NPP site is fully engineering, technological and technically feasible in accordance with the highest safety requirements, and the advantages of the site and the available infrastructure at Kozloduy NPP are indisputable. The project for a new nuclear power plant in Kozloduy is being considered solely for its economic profitability and importance to national security and the economy.